Canvasback Duck Pairs
Canvasback Ducks are a larger diving duck native to North America. They are called the
Canvasback as early Europeans saw their backs as a light khaki hue. Although upon closer inspection, a much more ornate coloration pattern is prevalent. The males have a reddish black head, with black trimmings on their beautiful plumage. The females are a lighter brown color on the head, with a darker brown back and flanks.
The
Canvasback Ducks thrive in the ponds and marshes of the American prairie. They nest using marsh grasses such as cattails and bulrushes, which provide effective cover from predators.
In the wild,
Canvasback Ducks are a very migratory species. They will usually winter in mid-Atlantic or Pacific coastal regions, such as the Chesapeake Bay. During the warmer months, they are found along the Mississippi Flyway and Pacific Flyway regions.
While
Canvasback Ducks are not a threatened species currently, they have been in recent decades. However, conservation efforts to support their breeding habitat, specifically submerged aquatic vegetation areas, has led to a stabilization of their populations.
